Our Water

(The following post was written in a notebook but not actually posted on the blog until we received our referral because we didn’t tell our family that we were in process. We waited until we had the referral for our son before we published on the blog because we wanted to do this “covertly” and have it be a surprise to as many people as possible.)

So…on September 10, Holt called and told us we needed a well water test that is less than a year old. They said this is a State of Nebraska requirement. I asked her why we didn’t have to do this last time and she didn’t know. I called Culligan and on Monday, someone left a message that we should check with Midwest Laboratories about a water test. On Tuesday, I picked up a water test kit and took a sample in on Wednesday. On Friday, Holt called and said they got the results (we didn’t get our copy until Monday) and that our water is “contaminated.” She can’t approve a home study to be done until we have a pure water test. On Monday (Sept 20) she called and said she hadn’t gotten to talk to anyone yet but I could call if I wanted to. I called and found out that I could take the next sample—not necessarily someone from the lab. I also called Culligan and spoke to the guy there and he said something about “shocking the well” and suggested I call another company that can clean water. I called this other place and learned about a reverse osmosis system and how to shock a well. He said we could do this ourselves. So, I went and got several water test kits, 2 gallons of Clorox, and 5 gallons of drinking water so we don’t have to drink chlorinated water the next several days. When Tony got home, he poured the Clorox into the well and we did the next couple of steps before bedtime. We had to let it sit overnight in the pipes and then let it run from the outside for two hours. I called the lab and asked when we could test again and they said “When you don’t smell chlorine anymore.” It was Friday before we didn’t smell chlorine anymore but my mom was here watching Meighan while I painted trim so I didn’t get to take a sample on Friday.

On Monday, September 27, I took a 2nd sample to be tested. I had the results emailed to me on Tuesday and they came back MUCH better—but not perfect. So, I called our well people and spoke with 2 people at Culligan and learned lots! When Tony got home in the evening, we talked and decided to get a UV Filter System and that should take care of all the bacteria that’s left. I emailed Holt and received a reply that our file will be given to our social worker. Yippee!

We can finally start the HOME STUDY!

New Pictures

Our little daredevil!

Summer fun. I set up a little sunshade mesh tent (see next picture) I got several years ago and sprayed for mosquitoes so they stayed away and we had a good couple hours of water fun about three different times in August.

Jumping up and landing/splashing in the water on her little butt. She thought that was soooo funny!

At the fall FCC picnic there was a sand pit and she spent all THREE HOURS that we were there playing in the sand! She slept on the way there AND on the way back!

A new outfit that I think looks really cute on her. I told her last night it was very pretty and this morning when we dressed for church, I told her to go show daddy and she went and did a "ta da!"

Runzamatic Casserole

I found the following recipe in a local publication earlier this past week. It's called "Runzamatic Casserole". If you are not from Nebraska (or have never been to Nebraska), you probably don't even know what a runza is. It is beef with onions, cabbage and spices inside an enclosed "bun". The origins are German (and possibly Russian). It is often a Husker Game Day staple in and around Memorial Stadium. Here is a picture of a runza and an open runza to give non-Nebraskans an idea of what they look like:

So, anyway, I wanted to try this recipe because it sounded EASY for one thing, and if it actually tasted like a runza, it would be a good thing to take to a potluck sometime. So I gathered the ingredients and made it today in the midst of painting our house (more on that later). This is such an EASY casserole to make and it actually tasted like a runza! So, if you don't have Runza in your area, make this and you'll know EXACTLY what a runza tastes like.

Here's the recipe:

Runzamatic Casserole

2 pkgs crescent rolls
2 lbs hamburger
1 pkg (dry) onion soup mix
2 c. cheddar cheese (grated)
1/2 c. water
1 8-oz pkg shredded cabbage (or shred your own like I did)

Brown hamburger. Add onion soup and water. Add cabbage and cook 15 min. Take one pkg rolls and line greased 9x13" pan. Spread beef and cabbage mixture all over rolls. Lay second package of rolls over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

(This is how the directions were printed. It didn't say what to DO with the cheddar cheese -- put it ON or IN -- so I put it IN right before I spread it in the 9x13" pan.)


This came out SOOOOOO good and tasted EXACTLY like a runza. We were pretty hungry because it was a late lunch/dinner (noon meal - depending on what you call the noon meal). I will definitely be making this again. We have leftovers so we'll see how those are.

Happy cooking!

9/14/10 -- Note after making this the second time: I decided to use THREE cans of crescent rolls so that the entire bottom and top could be covered. It came out great and I think that's what I'll do from now on. I also shredded the cheese coarser this time. I think it was better. I use a little more than they say to use 'cause I like cheese!

Interesting Day

(The following post was written in a notebook but not actually posted on the blog until we received our referral because we didn’t tell our family that we were in process. We waited until we had the referral for our son before we published on the blog because we wanted to do this “covertly” and have it be a surprise to as many people as possible.)

Today was an interesting day. I had made an appointment to do a piano tuning so Meighan and I went down to Murdock. She stayed with my parents while I tuned the piano. We ate lunch when I got back. Then while we were just hanging out, my cell phone rang. It was our agency with a question about my employment…or lack there of…and the fact that we were showing income for me this year. I explained that it was “unemployment.” Oh. So I guess that answered her question. I asked if they’d totten our criminal checks back yet and she said “yes”! Wow! She thought it was strange that we and two other couples had gotten back in 3 weeks but others were still waiting 8-10 weeks! I figure it’s a God-Thing and that there is a little boy in China just waiting foir us and God wants us there sooner than later! We’ll see if this shows us anything in the future!

So we headed home and made a stop to take advantage of some sale prices. When we got home, there was a message from someone regarding a resume I’d submitted. It didn’t recognize the name of the company. I called them back to call me back and they eventually called back. It ended up being a job bank you have to pay to get access to. I may sign up later but right now I don’t have that extra money.